Night of the Abandoned Duchess

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Chapter 33

As she entered the castle garden, she moved diligently.

The sense of relief and the anxiety of having to check her face coexisted. Rosalind was worried so much that her head ached like a stabbing pain in her head, and her calves and soles of her feet throb like crazy from running around.

Even though she was told that he had been found, as soon as she heard it, she burst out crying again.

Wiping her tears fiercely with trouble, as Rosalind stepped her foot, she suddenly remembered Leo. If he saw her crying face, he would be worried.

Rosalind paused for a moment in the middle of the garden, thinking of Leo. The raindrops had subsided before she knew it, though her clothes and handkerchief were all soaked in the rain that had fallen before.

She began to wipe her tears with the back of her hand.

Tears did not stop as easily as she had expected, and she stood tall and swallowed a small tear.

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As she pressed the tip of her palm against her eyelids, trying to catch her breath, she could feel a sudden pull in her body. When she suddenly lifted her head with a sudden sensation, she could see Kyle holding her in his arms.

Rosalind’s eyes widened at the warmth in her cold body and the sudden action.

“…Duke?”

Why is this person in the garden, and why…

“What a relief. Thank God…”

She couldn’t understand why he hugged her and said, “What a relief.”

“Really…”

He couldn’t continue his words, and quickly began to look all over her face.

As if to confirm, he touched her cheeks and areas like her eyes with his hands. He looked like a father who was concerned about where she was injured. It was at a level at which anyone could mistakenly believe that it was not Leo that was missing, but her.

In a situation where she had no idea what it was, one thing was certain, that he seemed very desperate.

For some reason, Rosalind remembered what he said a while ago that he needed her…

Maybe it was because her eyes were red and bloodshot, or maybe it was because there was rain water on her face. It felt like she was about to cry… The man who hugged her as if she was a very precious person was shaken, and it was so deep and serious that Rosalind could not even think of going out of it.

“…Please, let me go.”

After a while, she came to her senses and uttered to Kyle.

“I can’t breathe.”

When she complained of stuffiness, he let go of her small body. His voice sank very low.

“…I’m overdoing it. First, wash your body. You’re going to catch a cold.”

She would be in after a while. Thinking that, Rosalind nodded her head slowly and headed into the castle.

As she moved her feet, she could feel his gaze continuing to cling to her. She remembered the earnest hand that reached for her as she did with Leo, and she glanced back.

But, that gaze returned not long after.

The first thing Rosalind did when she went inside was to find Leo.

“I need to check. Where is Leo?”

The maid led her to Leo’s room, and Rosalind could only see the sleeping child.

“Le, Leo…”

She gently stroked Leo’s cheek.

Tears welled up in her eyes when she saw the child’s face. Her dress and hair were damp, and her hair and appearance were all messed up. In addition, it was a blunt thoughtless act of a grown-up in tears, though none of that mattered.

“You… I—how much I…”

When she saw Leo disappear, she was going to give him some warning that she was very angry so that he wouldn’t do this again, but when she saw his face, it felt like her head went blank.

She was so grateful that he came back to her side with a healthy face like this.

“Safely…”

She sat slightly on the bed and looked at the sleeping face. Reddish cheeks under long, straight eyelashes, white skin, and blonde hair shining like the sun. Rosalind kissed his lips lightly over the curly hair.

As she looked at Leo’s face for a long time, she heard the voice of the courteous maid.

“The Master is waiting for you.”

Barely taking off her eyes with pity, she followed the maid and stepped slowly.

With her wet clothes on, with every step she took, her hair and the hem of her dress dripped. The flowing water continued like a trail with every step she took, and the maid handed her a soft cloth and led her to the parlor.

As soon as she stepped into the parlor, she saw Kyle again. He looked calmer than before. Rosalind bowed her head towards him and gave him a polite greeting.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to find Leo. Thank you very much.”

“No. I’m glad you found him.”

“I know. I’m really happy. It’s all thanks to the Duke. Where did you find Leo?”

“They said they found him crying in the corner of the alley.”

“I see,” said Rosalind, nodding calmly.

“Have you eaten?”

She shook her head at his question.

“I was out of my mind…”

“Then let’s go eat.”

“It’s okay…”

“Thank you is enough.”

Although he just said one word, Rosalind felt a sense of pressure because of his low voice.

“Leo is worried if you get sick.”

In the end, she nodded slowly at his words.

“First wash up and come out. You will catch a cold.”

“….”

“You’re wet.”

At his assertive voice, she glanced at her clothes. The thin dress, soaked in the rain, was clinging to her body. Although the inside was not directly reflected, the body line was subtly revealed due to the tight stickiness.

Her hair, which was still not dry, felt watery, and her body was damp as if she had just come out of a shower.

Feeling embarrassed, Rosalind nodded her head saying she was going to wash up and come out.

So, she headed to the bathroom and slipped her toes in the warm water.

As she dipped her body deeper, Rosalind could feel the warmth radiating through her body. Soon, water filled her voluptuous breasts, gliding across her.

Seeing that he found Leo, she could not openly refuse the favors he offered, and she had no choice but to step into the bathroom.

She exhaled a deep breath as if she was stuffy, but contrary to her stuffy heart, her body was relaxed in the warm temperature—a warm feeling wrapped around her body, a warm glowing heat.

A somewhat familiar bathroom scene…

Until a few years ago, she bathed here, and she hugged him as if it was a matter of course. Considering the fact that he held her every day, washing wasn’t just about cleanliness.

One of the days, as her bath was getting longer, he suddenly came into her bathroom and held her…

‘In the bathroom, a little…’

‘Isn’t it the same here and in the bedroom? I’m going to hold you?’

Unlike her, who was helpless with shame, the harder he hit, the louder the sound of the water squeaking. In the bathroom, her moans echoed even more so that she had to gnaw her teeth to stop them from popping out.

It seemed like her face was blazing for nothing because of the past that suddenly passes by. It was tempting to dip into the warmer temperatures, though she prioritized taking Leo home.

After taking a bath, she went to change into her new clothes.

Her dressing room, guided by the maid, remained intact the same day she left. No, to say that it was left as it was, all the clothes were neatly maintained without a speck of single dust.

The things left behind were not thrown away, rather, the things were left intact…

She chose a simple and modest one of the dresses that were laid out in rows, and when she came out after changing all the clothes, the meal had already been prepared. It was so glamorous and luxurious for a meal that she was embarrassed.

Perhaps, a lot of the castle’s hands were mobilized to prepare this meal. Rosalind felt sorry and embarrassed when she thought about it.

“This is all…”

“I didn’t know what would be good, so I prepared this and that, but eat slowly as much as you want. You would have struggled to find Leo.”

“I’ve been a nuisance in many ways.”

“I like it.”

‘…What?’

Rosalind’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.

“I want you, Rosalind, to continue to be a nuisance to me. Thank you for being by my side like this.”

Perhaps, his words were sincere, and his face seemed softer than usual.

Rosalind turned her words around on purpose and didn’t answer his words.

“Leo’s incident, as well as the meal… Thank you for your consideration.”

She pulled up the hem of her dress and greeted him lightly. The greeting voice was polite, although the air flowing between them was shaking with a stiff tension.

Rosalind thought that there would be no embarrassment as she had just washed out, but her hair was still damp with nothing, and only the clothes were new.

Candles swaying out of the dim window in the background, soft lights, and a table left alone. She swallowed an empty breath in the strangely flowing atmosphere. Conceivably, because of the awkwardness, it seemed like her heart was pounding for nothing.

Then, he placed the coveted grape pieces and candied apples on her plate.

“You like it. It will whet your appetite.”

She felt strange.

Rosalind was always the one anxious before. As she cut off her morning sleep, she went to the table, and she wanted to keep talking to him. She could not even dream of him taking care of her and giving her food.

“…Thank you.”

“Are there any injuries?”

“Fortunately, Leo is fine. Very fortunately.”

“Rosalind, I mean you.”

Rosalind lowered her head at his words.

“…Yes. I’m not hurt anywhere.”

At her words, he muttered. “That’s a relief,” Despite him responding that, Kyle gazed around her face as if he was not fully relieved.

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